JP2968804B2 - Developing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device that is used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, and that is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

[Conventional technology]

When supplying toner or developer to the developing section of the developing device,
Heretofore, a method of supplying toner from a toner bottle to a hopper has been adopted. However, demands for user's prevention of dirt and operability have become severe, and recently, the number of copying machines using a toner cartridge has increased.

Further, recently, there has been proposed a developing device in which a developing unit and a toner cartridge (toner storage unit) are integrally formed, and which can be replaced by a user by attaching / detaching from / to the apparatus main body.

This type of developing device has a system in which the seal is removed immediately before use by separating the two with a seal member so that toner does not enter the developing section on the distribution stairs (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. No. 61861, U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,654, U.S. Pat. No. 4065335, etc.).

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional device, it is necessary to peel off the adhesive layer of the seal portion to remove the seal, which requires a considerably large force.In addition, when the seal is pulled out, the toner adheres to the seal surface and is not wiped off by hand. In addition, there is a problem that the inside of the airplane gets dirty, and users have been strongly demanding improvement.

Further, in the conventional apparatus, a complicated shutter mechanism is required for opening and closing the shutter member, and no consideration has been given to preventing the shutter member from being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body without opening the shutter member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to secure a toner supply port without requiring any complicated shutter mechanism for opening and closing a shutter member, to enable stable toner supply at all times, and to open a shutter member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device which can prevent the mounting of the main body of the image forming apparatus in a state in which the main body is not operated, and releases the blocking of the blocking member when the shutter member is opened, so that the handling becomes extremely good.

[Means for solving the problem]

An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device including a developing unit and a toner storing unit, wherein an openable and closable shutter member that partitions the developing unit and the toner storing unit and a casing of the developing device that forms the toner storing unit are provided. A sealing member provided and bonded so as to cover a gap between the shutter member and a wall separating the developing unit and the toner storage unit; and a seal member provided integrally with the seal member on the seal member. A seal cutting member provided on the developing device separately from the member for cutting the seal member, wherein the shutter member cannot be opened only by the seal member. The toner supply port is formed by cutting the seal member by the seal cutting member and opening the shutter member. The shutter member is provided integrally with a blocking member that prevents the shutter member from being attached to the image forming apparatus main body when the shutter member is bonded by the seal member, and that opens and closes the shutter member. Achieved.

[Action]

Since the shutter member is configured so as not to be opened only by bonding the shutter member with the seal member,
At the start of use of the developing device, the shutter member can be opened by simply cutting the seal member with the seal cutting member, and the member for opening the shutter member in the openable state to prevent the shutter member from being used can be prevented. Since the member also serves as a member, no complicated shutter opening / closing mechanism is required for opening and closing the shutter member, and a blocking member for preventing attachment to the image forming apparatus main body when the shutter member is bonded by the seal member. Is provided integrally with the shutter member, that is, the shutter member and the blocking member operate in conjunction with each other. The developing device is opened by tilting the blocking member to make it usable, and the blocking by the blocking member is released, so that the developing device can be used in the image forming apparatus. It is adapted to be attached to the body.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the outer appearance of the copying machine main body and the developing device. The developing device 2 can be attached to and detached from the copying machine main body 1 from the near side.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of a developing device (cartridge) 2 according to the present invention, wherein 2a is a developing section (developing chamber), 2b
Is a toner storage unit (toner chamber), 3 is a shutter member, 3a is a rotation shaft thereof, and 3b is a lever protruding outward. The developing unit 2a includes a developing roller 4 having a magnet disposed therein, a doctor 5 for regulating a layer of developer on the developing roller 4, and a developing roller 4.
And a paddle wheel 6 for stirring the toner supplied from the toner storage section 2b and a sensor 7 for detecting the toner concentration in the developer on the outer wall of the developing section 2a.

Further, a toner supply / stirring / toner end detecting member 9 which is rotated by a shaft 8 is built in the toner storage section 2b.

A shutter member 3 for separating the developing unit 2a and the toner storage unit 2b
Is rotatable about a shaft 3a, and its operation is performed by a lever 3b substantially integral with the shaft 3a. When the shutter member 3 is closed, the setting of the developing device 2 to the main body 1 by the lever 3b is performed. Is blocked.

In a state where the shutter member 3 is closed (the state shown in FIG. 1), the front end (lower end) of the shutter member 3 is opposed to the front end (upper end) of the wall 10 forming the toner storage portion in a similar manner with a slight gap. In addition, this gap is closed by a seal member 11. As described above, at the manufacturing stage of the developing device 2, the developing unit 2a and the toner storage unit 2b are completely separated by the seal member 11, the developer is sealed in the development unit 2a, and the toner is sealed in the toner storage unit 2b. You. This seal member 11 is removed immediately before use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seal member, in which a seal member 11 made of paper, resin film, or the like is attached to both the shutter member 3 and the wall 10 over the shutter member 3 and the wall. One end of the thread 12 is prevented from coming off by the elastic member 13 outside the developing side plate, and the other end is connected to the hook 14 so as to go around the seal member 11 at the boundary between the thread 12 and the thread.

The strength of the thread 12 is such that the seal member 11 can be cut.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the seal member 11 is cut. When the hook 14 is pulled toward the user, the seal member 11 is cut by the thread 12. When the thread 12 is pulled out, the toner is wiped off by the elastic member 14 such as a sponge provided at the outlet, so that no stain is taken out to the outside.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the developing device in a state where the developing device is set in the apparatus main body. By depressing a lever 3b and opening a shutter member 3a integrated therewith, the toner in the toner storage portion 2b is supplied to the developing portion 2a. Can be replenished.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the developing device in a state where the developing device is pulled out from the apparatus main body. When the developing device 2 is pulled out from the main body for the purpose of changing colors, the lever 3b becomes free and can rotate about the shaft 3a. The shutter member 3 rotates by its own weight and hangs down and closes (the lever 3b comes to a position protruding upward as shown in FIG. 5). The toner in the toner storage section 2b is mixed into the developing section 2a carelessly. To prevent that.

6 and 7 are perspective views of a seal member according to a modified example. In this case, the seal member 11 is formed of a film having a property of being torn by the width when the tension portion 11a is pulled. Have been. In use, the sealing member 11 is cut by pulling the pulling portion 11a from the outside.

As described above, according to the present invention, the shutter member is configured to be prevented from being opened only by bonding the shutter member with the seal member. The shutter member can be opened by simply cutting with the member, and since the member for opening the shutter member in the openable state and making it usable can also be used as a blocking member, the shutter member can be opened and closed. No complicated shutter opening / closing mechanism is required, and the shutter member is provided integrally with the shutter member to prevent the shutter member from being attached to the image forming apparatus main body when the shutter member is adhered by the seal member. When the shutter member is adhered by the seal member, the developing device is located at a position where the blocking member integrated with the shutter member blocks. Since the image forming apparatus cannot be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, there is no possibility that the developing device is erroneously mounted on the image forming apparatus main body in a state where the seal member is not cut, and the operation for mounting is performed by cutting the seal member. If the shutter member is opened only by tilting the blocking member, that is, when the shutter member is opened by the blocking member, the blocking of the mounting to the image forming apparatus main body by the blocking member is released. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural view of one embodiment of a developing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seal member, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which the seal member is cut, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a structural view of the developing device in a state where the developing device is pulled out from the apparatus main body, FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a seal member according to a modified example, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the developing device. 2a: developing section, 2b: toner storage section, 3: shutter member, 10: wall, 11: sealing member, 11a: tension section, 12: thread.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing device comprising a developing unit and a toner storage unit, wherein a shutter member that can be opened and closed to partition the developing unit and the toner storage unit, and a casing of the developing device that forms the toner storage unit A sealing member provided so as to cover a gap between the shutter member and a wall partitioning between the developing unit and the toner storage unit; and a sealing member provided integrally with the sealing member on the sealing member; or A developing device which is provided in the developing device separately from the seal member and which cuts the seal member, and which is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body; wherein the shutter member cannot be opened only by the seal member The toner supply port is formed by cutting the seal member by the seal cutting member and opening the shutter member. Wherein the shutter member is provided integrally with a blocking member for blocking a device with the image forming apparatus main body when the shutter member is adhered by the seal member and for opening and closing the shutter member. A developing device.